Adelaide Residence

Tusmore, South Australia

Residential

The brief was to design a large, modern 350 m2 family home and swimming pool for a couple, four teenage children and pets, on a large rectangular suburban site. With a tight budget and large scale, simplicity was key. The design was based on internal/external boxes: the children’s bedroom box (two blocks of textured concrete joined by a glass bathroom); the adult retreat and children’s retreat boxes (both smooth rendered wedge-shaped boxes); and the garage box (heavily textured rendered element). In the space between, two joinery units created the dining room, living room, kitchen, and corridor. Large sliding doors connect the terrace and swimming pool to kitchen/entertaining areas. Finishes are soft, simple, and natural with the colour mostly intrinsic to the material. The floor slab was made using specified cement, sand, and aggregate then ground back and sealed. The design challenges the definition of space, other than by walls.

RAIA South Australian Chapter Architectural Awards 2001 - Commendation for Residential Architecture